The Spare Room
Summary: The bills keep piling up and if Daryl Dixon has any hope of improving his life, he and his brother are going to have to find someone to fill their spare room. The problem is that while he can't stand his new roommate, he finds himself falling for his roommate's girlfriend. Caryl. AU.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that you recognize from the Walking Dead.
Chapter 11
Merle fell back onto the pillows, chuckling a little as he tried to catch his breath.
"Well, fuck, Darlin'," he breathed, "Haven't had that kind of workout in a while."
The woman offered him a syrupy smile and rolled over onto her stomach so that she could look down at him, "You could have it more often if you came to visit me every now and again."
Merle looked over at her for a long moment. Her name was Faye and she was a couple years older than Merle. She worked as a waitress at the local burger joint during the day and at night, she worked at the bar. She had two kids and a deadbeat ex-husband. She was a good lay, though, but the problem was that she was looking for a daddy for her boys, something that Merle refused to be. He raised his brow at the brunette and sat up a little, "It's a long drive, Darlin', and Daryl's always got the damn truck."
She rolled her eyes and frowned, "It's across town, Merle, not across the state. You could throw a rock and hit my house."
Merle chuckled, "Good thing I don't take to throwin' rocks, then."
Faye's frown quickly turned into a scowl, "So in other words, I'm good for a fuck every once in a while, but not good enough to see on a regular basis."
"Well, now ya getting' it, Sweet-cheeks," Merle commented.
"You're such an ass," she told him, moving to the edge of the bed to find her clothes.
"The hell ya goin'?" Merle demanded, smirking a little at her, which only seemed to incense her more.
"Away from you," she snapped at him as she put her bra in place, "What the hell is the point of this when you're the only one getting anything out of it?"
"Oh, I'm pretty sure ya got somethin' out of it," Merle reminded her, that smirk of his still firmly in place. She paused after slipping on her pants and shot him an icy look.
"I didn't get anything that I couldn't get with my detachable showerhead, Merle," Faye told him before she went back to dressing herself. Ouch. Well, that was a blow to the old ego. Thankfully, Merle's skin was thick.
"Well, if that's the case, what the hell d'ya want me to come around more often for?" he shot at her.
"Apparently, it was clearly a moment of insanity," she griped, pulling on her shirt and moving to the door, "Don't get up, Merle. I'll show myself out."
Merle rolled his eyes and lay back down on the bed simply to prove a point, "And here I didn't think ya could do a damn thing without me."
"It's actually better without you," she called back to him. Then she stormed off, slamming the front door.
Merle laughed to himself. She liked it and she knew it. She was just pissed at him. No woman could say that she was better off without Merle Dixon, but he could safely say that he was better off without them. The last thing that Merle wanted was to settle down. He didn't want no girlfriend to harp at him. He didn't want to shell out all his hard earned money for a ring and a wedding. He certainly didn't want no damn brats in his life, especially ones that came about from another man's fuck-up. He wasn't built to be the relationship type and that suited him just fine…it just didn't suit the women he tended to hook up with. They couldn't stop at just one hit.
Speaking of hits…
He glanced outside, taking note of how the rain outside had seemed to quit. He scowled.
He had been sent home on account of the rain and he had hoped that the rain would last until the weekend. That way, he could get high and not have to worry about random piss tests at work until next week. It looked like Merle wouldn't get his wish, which sucked a lot.
Then there was a knock on the door. He smirked a little to himself. Probably Faye back for more…though he didn't recognize the car that was outside. Rethinking his initial plan to answer the door in his best birthday suit, he pulled on a pair of green sweatpants and padded out into the hall. He opened the door and to his surprise, he found Ed's girl standing there.
"Um, hi, Merle," Carol said, a little disarmed as if Merle was the last man she expected to answer the door.
"Miss Taylor," Merle greeted, leaning against the door jam, "'Fraid ya man ain't off work yet."
"Oh. Okay," Carol said, blinking a little, "I was actually here to see Daryl."
Merle's eyebrows shot to his hairline and he asked, "My brother?"
"Yeah," Carol confirmed, "Is he home?"
"He's still at work," Merle answered.
"Oh, I didn't know he could spray when it's raining," Carol said. Merle's dubious expression remained fixed on his face. How did the little woman know so much about his brother's job?
"He can't," Merle told her, "He's puttin' signs up today. What're ya lookin' for him for?"
"I actually came to drop this off," Carol said, gesturing to the box she was holding. She opened the lid and Merle was treated with a large and highly edible pie. It smelled heavenly. Apple, most likely.
"That for him?" Merle questioned, his eyes wide.
"My mama and I made it this morning," Carol told him, "Sort of as a thank you. He really helped me out yesterday."
"Did he now?" Merle wondered, the first he had heard about Daryl helping anyone out yesterday, "Always the sweet one, he is."
"He is," Carol agreed, "Can you see that he gets this?"
"I'll do that, Darlin'," Merle promised her, taking the box, "Be my pleasure. Ya don't wanna come in, now, Sugar?"
She seemed to think on it for a moment before nodding. He let her in and then led her back to the kitchen. She was silent as they walked and it was only when Merle looked back at her to offer her a beverage did he see why. Her eyes lingered on his bare back and the scars that painted his skin.
"Women love 'em," he told her, shaking off the twinge of annoyance that he felt when anybody stared at his back, "Sweat tea?"
"Oh, uh, yes, please," Carol responded, looking a little ashamed at being caught staring. Merle set to work pouring two glasses of tea and then slid one over to her.
"So, Lil' Brother helped ya out yesterday, huh?" he asked as he sat down at the table.
"Changed my tire," Carol answered.
"Ah, so that's why the boy was late last night," Merle said, nodding his head, "How'd that happen?"
"I picked up a nail," Carol said, "It was a lucky thing that Daryl and Kevin were stopping by the Harvest Garden for dinner. Daryl changed my tire real quick and then he came over to my place for supper."
Merle had not been told any of this and found it all quite interesting, "Well, I'd imagine he liked that. All we had here last night was a couple of 'em microwave dinners."
"I guess we should have invited you guys along," Carol admitted, sipping her tea, "What did you and Ed do last night?"
"Oh, nothin' too exitin'," Merle dismissed, not really interested in telling her that her boyfriend smoked half of Merle's stash before Merle hid it, "So tell me, when are ya gonna come back and cook for us again?"
They talked for a while, mostly small talk, before they heard the front door open.
"Merle, whose shoes are these?" Daryl's voice echoed through the house.
"Why don't ya come on back and see for yerself!" Merle called back. He listened as Daryl made his way through the house, his hair damp and hanging into his eyes as his wet clothes clung to his body. Merle noted the look of surprise on Daryl's face upon seeing Carol in their kitchen and then, low and behold, his baby brother actually smiled.
"Carol," Daryl breathed, his voice soft and pleasant.
"Hey, Daryl," Carol greeted him with a smile as well, "I brought you a pie…as a thank you for yesterday."
Daryl's eyes travelled to the opened box on the table and to the pie that was missing about three slices. He shook his head, "Ya ain't gotta do that."
"Really, it was all Mama," Carol corrected, "When I got up this morning, she was already in the kitchen whipping this up. Told me to swing by and deliver it to you after I got my tire fixed."
"Oh," Daryl said, a little taken aback, "Well, that was mighty nice of her. Ya thank her for me," he requested before asking, "So, ya tire's fixed alright?"
"They said it was a good thing that I didn't drive on it," Carol told him, "They also said that I might need new tires soon, though-"
"Ya don't," Daryl cut her off, "Them tires looked damn fine to me yesterday. Still plenty of tread."
Merle idly wondered what else Daryl found yesterday that looked damn fine.
Carol laughed, "Well, that answers my next question."
Daryl chuckled a little too and leaned back on the counter, apparently ready to settle in for a long conversation, an odd turn of events considering that for the last week and a half, the boy had been almost running out of the room whenever she came over.
"Been thinkin'," Daryl ventured, "When was the last time ya had an oil change?"
"It's been a while," Carol confessed sheepishly, "Couple months at least."
"I could check it for ya," Daryl offered, "Change it too, if ya need."
Merle's eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he listened to the offer.
"I couldn't ask you to do that," Carol refused.
"Don't mind," Daryl insisted, "Would hate for ya to be stranded on the side of the road somewhere."
Carol smiled again and teased, "What, you wouldn't come rescue me again?"
"I'd come," Daryl promised her, reflecting her smile back at her.
Merle glanced between the pair, all smiles and if he didn't know any better, he'd say they were even flirting a little. He decided to interject, "That's what she said."
"Merle, ya bonehead," Daryl protested, going back to his usual scowl-y self.
"Ya set it up, Brother," Merle reminded him, "Now sit down and have ya ass some pie."
Daryl rolled his eyes and sat down across the table. Merle leaned back some, watching the pair as they continued to talk and feeling distinctly like a third wheel.
0 – TSR – 0
Carol hadn't smiled so much in quite some time, but she felt at ease in the Dixon brothers' kitchen. On this visit, Merle seemed quieter somehow, which allowed her to focus more on Daryl, who seemed pleased to see her. He was so different from her last few visits and Carol found that she was happy that they had talked yesterday. He was warm, leaning forward over the table to talk, and he seemed to smile more. He didn't seem to want to leave the kitchen, sitting there in damp clothes that clung to his body as he ate pie.
At the thought, her eyes drifted over the light blue long-sleeved shirt that seemed to cling to him like a second skin. She could see the outline of his chest and the definition of his shoulders through the fabric. His body was different from Ed's. It was leaner and more muscular. It was also different from Merle's. Carol glanced over to the older Dixon brother, who had yet to put on a shirt. He was muscular, but bulky, whereas Daryl was lithe and trim. She supposed that their ages had to do with the differences in body type, but somehow she couldn't see Daryl as a bulky man or a man with a beer belly. He seemed like the type of man who would try to take care of himself.
"All damn day," he was saying, "Kevin decides to sing that damn song, 'Singin' in the Rain'. Was 'bout ready to smack him."
"Sounds like Elton, alright," Merle muttered.
"Elton?" Carol asked, frowning.
"Merle's stupid nickname for Kev," Daryl explained, shaking his head, "Says Kev's like Elton John with all the singin' and the glasses."
It was an interesting comparison, but Carol doubted that those were Merle's only reasons for the nickname. Kevin was a very eccentric guy.
"He likes it," Daryl assured her, "Even sings Elton John whenever Merle's around."
"That sounds like Kevin," Carol laughed, "When we were in high school-"
The front door opening caused Carol to pause. She figured that only one other person would walk into the house without knocking and sure enough, Ed came around the corner.
"What smells so damn good?" he asked, not yet realizing that she was there, but upon entering the kitchen, Ed asked, "Carol, what're you doin' here?"
"Oh, I was just-"
"Droppin' pie off for all of us," Merle cut in, gesturing to the half-eaten box, "Come sit down, Eddie. Have a slice."
Ed seemed to frown a little as he did as Merle asked, draping his jacket over the back of the extra chair and then sitting down in it. He took a piece on an extra plate and then looked over at Carol, "So what's with the pie, Baby?"
"Mama was baking this morning and told me to drop a pie off," Carol told him, leaving out the part where her mother had said that the pie was for 'that nice Dixon boy'. She had a feeling that Ed would not appreciate that and with a glance over at Merle, it was clear that he thought the same thing. She remembered all too well how insecure he could be about their relationship and the last thing she wanted to do was cause trouble.
"And you decided to wait for me to get home, huh?" Ed asked in between mouthfuls.
"Yes," Carol answered, glancing down at her hands. That hadn't been her intention at all. She just liked talking with Daryl and Merle.
"Well, good," Ed said before turning to Merle, "Where the hell's your shirt?"
Merle chuckled, "My damn house. Be thankful I got pants on."
Carol found herself blushing at the comment. Ed was frowning even harder and said, "Ain't no way to act 'round a lady, Merle."
"It's fine, Ed," Carol said quickly, catching his attention. Ed cut his eyes to her and she saw that he did not seem happy. He breathed in and then looked over across the table to Daryl, who was now sitting up straight with his arms crossed over his chest.
"What are you doing sittin' there in wet clothes? Why don't you go change?" he asked.
"Might be a good idea," Daryl conceded, already up and out of his chair before he finished speaking. Carol blinked for a moment, recognizing that Daryl was fleeing again, except that it wasn't her presence that he was fleeing. She looked over at Ed, who had returned to glancing over at Merle.
"Seriously, Man, you're at a table. Put on a shirt," Ed griped.
"What the hell does it matter to ya?" Merle wondered, leaning back in his chair and resting his feet on his brother's empty chair.
"It matters because it's disgusting," Ed told him.
Merle just relaxed further back and said, "If it bothers ya so fuckin' much, then ya free to go. Ain't stoppin' ya."
Ed narrowed his eyes at Merle and Carol felt uncomfortable with the resulting silence. It was like Ed was trying to challenge Merle and Merle was refusing to give him the time of day. Finally, Ed let his fork clatter down onto his plate and stood up.
"Carol, come on," he said, reaching for her wrist and tugging her up. She went with him, following him back towards his bedroom.
"Ed, what was that all about?" Carol questioned as he shut the door.
"I'm sorry that I didn't get home sooner," Ed apologized, "If I had known you were coming over, I would have got home earlier so you wouldn't have to sit with them."
"I didn't mind," Carol told him, "They're very nice."
Ed chuckled, "Of course they're nice," he snorted, "I told you all about them, Carol Ann. They're just looking to get into your pants."
Carol couldn't help but frown, "Ed, I don't think so. They're not like that."
"Don't be naïve, Carol," he told her, coming towards her to tilt her face up to his, "It's all an act. They're sneaky."
"They're my friends, Ed. I would have thought that you'd be okay with that," she said.
"You can be friends with whoever you want, Carol Ann, but I just don't want to see you get hurt," Ed said, pressing up against her. She could feel his erection pressing against her, "I love you too much to ever want to see you get hurt by the likes of them."
"They wouldn't hurt me," Carol said firmly, thinking of Daryl and his infinite kindness. Daryl Dixon was the last man that would ever hurt her.
"I hope that's true," Ed said, rubbing his thumb across her cheek, "I don't want to lose you. You make me so crazy," he murmured before he leaned in to kiss her.
0 – TSR – 0
Daryl had changed out of his wet clothes and felt a lot better…until he heard the door close next door. He scowled. The last thing he wanted to hear was another short performance on the other side of the wall, not when the woman starring in that performance was the one that he couldn't get out of his head. He got up off of the bed. He needed to get out of there before they started doing it.
But just as he approached the door, his older brother came in, holding a plate with a piece of pie and a fork on it.
"Hidin'?" Merle asked.
"What're ya talkin' about?" Daryl deflected, his eyes scanning the doorway for a gap that he could escape through, but his brother's massive frame seemed to trap him in the room.
"Talkin' 'bout what normally happens whenever the lil' lady comes over," Merle said, "Ya normally run off to hide as soon as she steps into the house."
Daryl scowled and shook his head, "Ain't neither," he said defiantly. Merle nodded his head.
"Well, ya sure didn't scamper off today," Merle conceded, leaning against the doorway with his slice of pie, "Stayed quite a while to talk to the lil' mouse. Offerin' to check out under her hood and everythin'."
Daryl flushed. Why did Merle have to make everything sound so dirty? He shook his head and responded, "Damn decent thing to do, ain't it?"
"Well sure," Merle shrugged, "I mean ya did change her tire and all…and then ya had dinner with her and her folks…and then she brings ya pie and you're all smiles and moon eyes at her."
Suddenly Daryl knew where this was going and he wanted out worse than ever, fidgeting and twitching. He suddenly really wanted a cigarette.
And then the knocking of a headboard against the wall started. Daryl jumped at the sound and looked towards the wall, his face twisted up as he realized what was happening on the other side. He looked away and saw that his brother was also surveying the wall in interest. Daryl wanted to be out of there, yes, but suddenly he wanted Merle out of there even more. He didn't want his brother to hear Carol.
"Let's go out to the living room," Daryl suggested.
"Let's stay," Merle said, setting the now empty plate on Daryl's dresser.
"Merle," Daryl growled in warning, "Let's go."
"I think we oughta stay right here, Lil' Brother," Merle said as the banging on the other side increased. Daryl cringed at the sound. He moved forward, intent on forcing his way out.
Merle was immovable, though, effortlessly pushing Daryl back into the room as if he was an irksome fly.
"Dammit, Merle!" Daryl cursed. The banging stopped with a loud grunt and Merle smirked.
"Was that even a minute?" Merle wondered, looking over at the wall.
"Would ya move ya ass now?" Daryl snapped, making another attempt to slip by him. This time Merle grabbed him by the shoulder and held him in place,
"Ya got a thing for the mouse, Boy?" Merle wondered.
"Let me go, Merle," Daryl glowered at him.
"She ain't yours, Brother," Merle told him, as if Daryl didn't already know, "She's got herself a man…well, a minute man, but she's his."
"Let me go," Daryl repeated.
"Ya go after her, Brother, and shit's gonna hit the fan," Merle said firmly, "Ya know that, right?"
"Merle-"
"You know that?" Merle asked again. Daryl nodded his head slightly and was released when he twisted out of his brother's grasp. Daryl finally succeeded in pushing past him and fled for the backyard, fumbling for a cigarette before he had even exited the patio door. He stepped out into the crisp air and was thankful that it wasn't raining at the moment. He easily lit his cigarette and let the nicotine flow into him.
He scowled when he heard the patio open again. He knew it would be Merle. He snapped out, "What now?"
"Brother, ya gotta know ya place here," Merle said, "Ya can't be fallin' for the girl. She's datin' our roommate for Christ's sake."
"I know that," Daryl muttered.
"Ya best remember it," Merle advised him, "Forget about her, Brother. Ain't nothin' for ya with her."
And deep down, Daryl knew that was true. Carol would never leave Ed for him. It just didn't work like that. He wasn't the kind of man that got a girl like Carol.
He was her friend and nothing more. He was happy being her friend.
Right?
TBC
AN: So Merle knows that his brother has feelings for our lovely Carol. Too bad he's not exactly supportive of it.
Please let me know what you think so far! Thank you for all of the wonderful and kind support!